The number of alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland continues to rise, according to figures released today by National Records of Scotland. The total of 1,277 deaths in 2023 is one higher than the previous year and is the highest figure since 2008.
Around two thirds of the people dying were male, increasing by 25, while female deaths decreased by 24. Alcohol-specific deaths were 4.5 times as high in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared to the least deprived areas, with the council areas of Inverclyde, Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire and Dundee City all showing higher rates than the Scottish average.
‘The rate of alcohol-specific deaths peaked in 2006 and then fell until 2012. Since then it has generally risen,’ commented Phillipa Haxton, head of vital events statistics. ‘Those aged 45-64 and 65-74 continue to have the highest mortality rates. If we look at the average age at death, that has risen over time. The mortality rates for those aged 65-74, and 75 and over, were at their highest since we began recording these figures in 1994. At the same time, for age 25-44 the mortality rate has been fairly stable over the last decade.’
While awaiting data to be released for the rest of the UK, Scotland continued to have the highest alcohol-specific death rate of the UK constituent countries, using figures from 2022 – although the gap had narrowed over the last two decades.
‘It’s heartbreaking that three people are losing their lives every single day in Scotland specifically because of alcohol, and that the death toll is showing no sign of falling,’ said Billy Henderson, service engagement manager at the Abbeycare Group, which runs a specialist residential detox and rehab service in Erskine. ‘Our staff see first-hand the terrible impact that excessive alcohol consumption can cause, not just on people’s health but on their families, careers and wider relationships.’
Pointing out that minimum pricing had been in place since 2018, with the level due to rise from 50p to 65p per unit at the end of this month, he added: ‘We believe that raising the sale price of alcohol will only have a limited effect. There must be a renewed national focus on preventing people from drinking to hazardous levels. We would like to see more money put towards harm reduction and treatment services for alcohol, as well as a review of drinks marketing and a wider education programme.’
The Salvation Army voiced concern about barriers preventing people from accessing the help they needed. Through its Breaking the Cycle report, the charity highlighted the lack of specialist substance use support at weekends and evenings – more than 80 per cent of Scottish drug services, many of which included support for alcohol use, were closed from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. It also identified the need for adequate mental health support alongside treatment.
‘Behind today’s alcohol death figures are yet more avoidable deaths and a call to action for government and health providers,’ said Lee Ball, director of addiction. ‘To tackle problem alcohol use we need the Scottish Government, local authorities and health and social care partnerships (HSCPs) to work together to deliver a wide range of specialist support services. Better access to support for substance use outside normal hours is essential and will save lives. We must also ensure that no one is denied support due to mental health issues, which can be exacerbated as a direct result of long-term problem drinking.’